The Socceroos could have gone a long way towards claiming ownership of that second automatic qualification spot from this group with a win today.

Instead, it's all very much still to play for.

When qualification resumes in the new year, the Socceroos will host Indonesia and Japan either side of a trip to China, facing a tough trip to Saudi Arabia in the final game.

Each one of those is must win, with qualification in the Socceroos hands.

Thanks for joining me this morning, it's been a ball.

We'll catch you again next time.

Here's Tony Popovic, talking to Paramount Plus.

"There's a lot of emotions now because a lot happened in the match," Popovic says.

"We took the lead early, which was great 

"There were a couple of really good of chances to make it 2-0 in the second half that we didn't capitalise on.

"We gave away a couple of goals quickly and then showed great character to get back

"It's an important point, keeps us in second place and we move forward to the next window."

He says he was pleased with Yengi's performance, but alluded to the striker not finishing his chances.

"It was good. I would have liked him to have scored that one at 1-0 when the ball was cut back because I think that would have been game over.

"Everyone's finding it hard to get consecutive results."

Well, I don't think many of us would have seen that second half coming.

The Socceroos were in such control, but two goals in two minutes from Abduljabar almost turned a regulation win into an absolute disaster.

It took a last-gasp scrambled goal from Kusini Yengi to level things for the Socceroos, who end this international window with two, unsatisfactory draws from their two matches.

The Socceroos deserve credit for managing to escape with a draw in the end, but it should never have come to that.

The Socceroos are still pushing for a winner and have a free kick after Geria slipped.

One of the Bahrain bench is unhappy with that, but he's been yellow carded for his protests.

Four minutes after the goal is scored, we're back underway.

We'll still be playing at lunchtime AEDT at this rate.

Yengi with the equaliser!

It was Hrustic who created the chance from the left, sending in a deep cross to O'Neill, who had a couple of stabs at the ball at the back post before the ball squirts out to Yengi, who hammers the ball home.

VAR is checking though...

I can't see what the referee might have seen, but the VAR check is ongoing...

There is a Bahrain player down in the penalty area too, Abdulla Al Khalasi.

The goal stands!

Every clearance is greeted with a cheer from the Bahrain supporters.

Ebrahim Lutfalla takes a chance, diving full stretch out of his area to head the ball away.

Jordan Bos now has the ball from the throw, twisting and turning and getting stymied at every opportunity it seems before the flag goes up for an offside.

Lovely ball from Geria, who has all sorts of space on the right side, finding Hrustic on the edge of the penalty area.

His shot is saved by a diving Ebrahim Lutfalla, who bobbles the ball but then regathers.

Plenty enough time for the Socceroos.